Tagged "#selfmadewoman"

Selfmadewomen ^2

This is a special one. These two vibrantly creative women quit their corporate jobs to do what they were truly passionate about. They created an online store that focuses on quality design and an approach that strays from the traditional all-over-the-place-marketing. Here we present you their answers to our questions.

We met at a lovely caffe of the city museum. It was a rainy day and we chatted about nothing and everything while drinking matcha latte.

How do you count time?

Katja: I would rather not count time. The only time I am fully aware of the time is when I am lacking one.

Sandra: With unforgettable moments. And lessons learned.

What most stayed in my memory from the "meeting" was the energy that sparked between the Utopiast girls. It is truly amazing how creative individuals can work together by bouncing ideas off each other.

What defines you?

Katja: I guess I am defined by a sense of personality, experiences and reason.

Sandra: My thoughts, my habits, my vision. I am a firm believer that the world around us is a reflection of who we are. The way we define ourselves, defines our reality.

How do you spend your time when nobody's looking?

Katja: By nature I am someone who treasures my time alone. I like to daydream, to reflect on the past. And if there is nothing in my past that captures my fancy, I let my thoughts go wherever they will.

Sandra: As an introvert I love spending time alone. I read, I think, I write. Not necessarily in that order.

Everybody falls sometimes. And then?

Katja: Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, keep a stiff upper lip and hopefully, learn something from it.

Sandra: Take a deep breath, remember your vision, try not to ask yourself too many questions and keep moving forward. It is always better to try and fail than not try at all. It builds character:)

We cannot wait to see what they have in mind for their future, because without a doubt, it will be amazing. That is why we invite you to see it with us at utopiast.com.

I’m so grateful to many people, but let’s start with the professors Judita Peterlin and Noel Pearse. Since all three of us are more or less familiar :) with business school education, we know how logical and mathematical intelligences are valued in the academic and then, further, the business world.

But then, somewhere in some part of the world, there is an economist, consciously making illogical decisions.

An economist that defines a target group by the people that she admires most and not by the people that are most likely to buy.

An economist who is using empathy to understand audiences.

An economist who is developing products out of her personal needs.

An economist who is sincerely interested in social and sustainable without questioning how that pays off.

An economist who wants to grow her company only to the point it can still be sincere and personal.

An economist who is not interested in advertising, promoted content or optimum reach.

A self-destroying person? I wouldn’t say.

I have stepped in front of Romina’s camera to prove I’m fine. With no major wounds, happy in my own studio realising the goals I’ve described above. In a quiet place in order not to drive my fellow economists insane. And vice versa. My only personal goal is to empower myself, our tiny group of followers, admirers, customers, neighbors, partners and co-workers.

But, please, don’t get me wrong. I went through all the calculations and numbers at the Faculty of Economics because I wanted to do that. I do use Excel spreadsheets extensively to calculate costs and prices. I even wrote a business plan. I regularly use Trello to define the processes and effectively collaborate with our virtual team. I work with a brand consultant who is pushing me to use my logical skills to my greatest pleasure and pain :). All because I know, there is no personal nor company self-growth without doing that. But at the end of a day, it is so liberating knowing that I have the freedom to ignore or mix and match all that data with my other intelligences.

Imagine a world full of small or middle-sized businesses that doesn’t base their decisions solely on spreadsheets, the needs of its organizational structure or investors’ pockets? The businesses that doesn’t fuel themselves with the passion to outpace the competition? How would the world look then?

Wouldn’t then everything start to move more slowly? We could stop and notice so many things that escape our picture today. Maybe we would even start to notice ourselves and our real needs?

Photos: Romina Ivancic

After reading the paper “Multiple Intelligences of Artistic Creative Social Entrepreneurs: A Case study” by Judita Peterlin & Noel Pearse (Alenka Repic and Kaaita are the case in this case), it become clearer why I decide the way I do and why I shape Kaaita the way I do. My personal values, the characteristics of any creative, artistic and social entrepreneur are leading the way.

The paper is still in the process of developing, but I hope it will be published or presented soon. I guess all creative, artistic and social entrepreneurs out there will feel much better after reading it.

The making of a selfmade woman

We asked our selfmade women a few questions on what constitutes them as human beings. In this post we share with you the answers of Manca Jevscek.

How do you count time?

I really do not want to count time, counting time to me means you are bored or anxious.

Best times are usually spent not realising how much time has passed.

Being immersed into something and forgetting time passing, is one of the best times and also most important times in your life. If something capturesyour focus so intensely you can bet it sings with your heart.

What defines you?

Have no idea, water and DNA, I guess?

How do you spend your time when nobody's looking?

Couch potato style with my cats.

Everybody falls sometimes. And then?

I tend to overanalyse, but on the bright side, consequently learn from mistakes. No other thing to do then keep going, new plans, new goals, new bucket lists, new wishes. Bjork describes this well in Desired Constellation.

Everybody falls sometimes. And then?

Manca Jevscek is our second #selfmadewoman to be featured, someone we find quiet yet so brave and inspiring.

She has figured out how to enter those worlds men can’t simply step into. Even sacred ones. She is someone for whom the doors of a monastery are open, even though a woman has not entered it for many years. She is someone who is allowed to get up close and personal with a famous restaurant’s family legacy. So, what’s her secret?

She is a photographer. A food photographer. Not just any, but a top-of-the-line one.

Curiosity is the main reason she loves photography so much. It opens doors that otherwise remain closed.

And food. She has a special relationship with it. Just browse through her food blog. You won’t find any copycat recipes there, only those bearing her signature dishes.

Manca at the Skarucna restaurant, known for its hearthy pieces of meat and wonderful wine. But, of course, Skarucna is so much more than that.

The master of the show is Slavko Zagar Jr. A waiter, cook, entertainer, gardener and interior decorator…

“Food is so beautiful. It carries memories, personal attributes, and culture capturing a whole range of meanings. That’s why I find it so interesting to photograph it.”

The same goes with her home. It completely resonates with the above quote.

Coffee or tea? Mate Chai please.

"This is Mrki’s favourite pose in the living room. We love to crack and nibble walnuts; even our cats are fond of playing with them, rolling them all over the place. This sheaf of dry grass was picked on Golovec Hill."

“The colour and textures of concrete are insanely beautiful and the process of making a pot of concrete truly thrills me. Pouring concrete feels like baking a cake, yet the result is stone which lasts forever. Magic!"

Kaaita paper bags in a good use :)

“I love crumbs, food with teeth marks or carrots still with some soil on them. It has to be ‘juicy’, with texture, alive… I take all my photos in natural light.”

I warmly welcome you to check out Manca’s website and there you’ll see how bravely she is walking the talk.

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If one could fit simple, sustainable and design into a single word, it would be Kaaita. Kaaita is a dynamically organised company that focuses on the sustainable production of smartly designed goods. The company is organised as a hardworking network of creatives and craftsmen. Together we create a virtual manufacturer that produces charming products with strong identities and inspiring stories.

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